The Best Microphone for Streaming and Podcasting for 2019

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So you want to enter the world of streaming, podcasting, or both. You've already got a burly PC that can handle this level of action, but now you need a way to record your buttery voice. Most people's first instinct is to just save money and use the microphone attached to their headset, but that's a newb mistake. Those microphones are not the best quality, usually, and as you know from listening to things online, poor audio quality is an instant tab-closer.

Plus, that microphone might be fine for recording your voice, but what if you want to interview somebody, or record several people gathered around a table? To do that, and to sound professional just in a general sense, you're going to need a quality microphone. We went ahead and gathered up the best microphones for streamers or podcasters that don't require a professional studio set-up.

1. Samson G-Track Pro

Best Mic for Streaming and Podcasting

The Samson G-Track Pro (read our review) won us over for extra features that put its functionality above and beyond the other mics on this list. Yes, it's a multi-pattern USB mic with a solid build-quality, perfect for streaming or podcasts, but there's also no extra required software, and an attainable price. But what really sets it apart is its 1/4-inch audio input, making this mic essentially a 2-track audio mixer. That means you can plug in an extra mic, second audio source, or even a sweet keytar without needing to buy a separate mixer. That kind of functionality at this price puts it at the top of our microphone listing. You can buy this for your podcasts and streams and it has room to expand for your interview show now that PBS has a Charlie Rose-shaped hole in its programming schedule. You can also get it at Walmart

2. Blue Yeti

Best Plug-and-Play Mic for Streaming and Podcasting

The Yeti microphone from Blue (read our review) offers a near perfect combination of performance and price, making it our almost-top pick for anyone getting into the game of streaming and podcasting. It's not that expensive and it includes cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional capture patterns, so it can capture pretty much anything you need it to without breaking the bank. It's also a USB microphone, so setup is super easy, and we also dig the fact that it has gain control and comes in a bunch of nifty colors. For fledgling and even advanced streamers/podcasters, the Yeti does everything you need it to do at the right price, with fantastic performance too.

3. HyperX QuadCast USB Microphone

Best Broadcast Mic for Streaming and Podcasting

The HyperX QuadCast USB Microphone (read our review) has arrived as a stunning debut from the company better known for making gaming headsets. This microphone is clearly tuned to capture the spoken word with a warmth that makes it perfect for voiceover or talking while streaming. In this way, the QuadCast USB Microphone is even more of a broadcast microphone than other products we’ve tested like the Razer Seiren or Blue Yeti. While we appreciate the included shock mount, the HyperX QuadCast USB Microphone stands a little too short for us to be talking into its side without having to lean down all the time. So, you’ll want to pick up an aftermarket boom arm and a better pop filter to make the most out of this microphone.

4. Blue Yeti Nano

Best Portable Mic for Streaming and Podcasting

The Blue Yeti Nano (read our review) takes everything great about the Blue Yeti and shrinks it down to a smaller form-factor. Even though it's the smaller sibling to the Yeti, it still fits into most every available mic stand. Some of the recording patterns got lost in the shrinkification process, but the two that remain are the two mic patterns most used for podcasting and streaming, anyway. It's solid, well-built, and sounds great, and is exactly the level of quality we've come to expect from Blue's line of excellent USB microphones.

5. Blue Snowball

Best Entry-Level USB Mic for Streaming and Podcasting

The Snowball USB microphone from Blue (read our review) is easily the best way to get into quality audio recording without spending much at all. This little guy includes a desktop stand that's height adjustable, so you can plug it in, plop it down, and start recording right away. It only offers omnidirectional or cardioid capture patterns, so it's not as flexible as a more expensive mic, but it's perfect for capturing your voice or that of a few of your cohorts huddled around it. It's available in four colors and can even be mounted to a traditional mic stand if you want to get a bit fancy. You can also get it at Walmart in the US.

6. Audio-Technica 2020

Best XLR Mic for Streaming and Podcasting

The Audio Technica AT2020 (read our review) is a cardioid microphone that requires an XLR cable, so it's not plug-and-play like a USB mic. You'll need to plug it into a mixing board, and also buy the aforementioned cable, so it's more of a pro setup than the mics above, but if you're looking to something more advanced the AT2020 is a great way to get started. It's not the best for streaming but if you're jam is podcasting we highly recommend it as long as you're willing to fork over some bucks for all the extra gear it requires.

What to Look for In a Mic

Of course, the world of high-end audio is a rabbit hole of sorts that can have you purchasing all kinds of expensive gear in a never-ending quest for the perfect recording, but it doesn't need to be that way. You can get by just fine with a USB microphone when you're starting out, and even when you're well along your way too. If you decide at some point you want more control over the audio portion of your content, you can start adding mixing boards and microphones with XLR input and all that jazz.

If you want to improve sound quality of your recordings right now, you definitely need to scrap that 3.5mm gaming headset mic. Not that there's anything wrong with a good gaming headset: It's fine if you're using it for chatting over Discord, but if you're trying to sound professional at all, it's not going to work. The easiest way to upgrade is with a dedicate USB mic, like the ones on the list. A USB mic is the best marriage of affordability and quality. There are some extremely expensive USB mics out there, for sure, but even they're often less expensive than even a basic studio set-up. If you're recording your voice for videos, podcasts, or want your streams to sound worlds above your headset mic, USB mics are fantastic choices.

Build Your Own Mini-Studio, or Fake One at Least

A mic is just the start of a rewarding career in online broadcasting. OK, there aren't any guarantees that it's going to turn into a career, but if you're serious about sound, you can use your new mic as the foundation upon which your podcast empire will be built. The easiest and least-expensive way to further improve your recordings is with a pop-filter. Every time you say a word beginning with the letter "P" you force a little burst of air into your mic. That pop comes through in your recordings, and will turn people off pretty quickly.

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The easiest and least-expensive way to further improve your recordings is with a pop-filter.

A pop-filter catches them and keeps your audio smooth. If you don't have a pop-filter, you can use software like Adobe Audition to automatically remove pops from your audio files. Failing that, you can put your finger in front of your mouth (think of a librarian "shushing" you) and deliver your audio that way. It works, but the downside is you have to keep your finger in front of your mouth the entire time.

Echo is another big problem with recording. Unless you record in a literal vacuum, your room is filled with air. Since you couldn't record in a vacuum for lots of compelling reasons both physical and physiological, there's almost certainly going to be an echo. It might be subtle, but it leads to a hollow sounding audio file. You can minimize it in a few ways that won't cost you any money. If you're recording VO, you can hide under a blanket with your mic. Another place to hide is a small closet. The garments will soften and absorb any echoing. In a lot of ways, DIY recording is just like how you played hide-and-seek as a 6 year old.

You also need a computer, obviously. A desktop PC might be better for heavy editing, but a good laptop is going to be way more convenient. As far as software, there are lots of professional editing suites you can choose from, but for most people Audacity or even Garage Band should do the trick.